Briggs honors founding of Valley Forge State Park, Pennsylvania's first state park

By For The Times Herald, Press release from Rep. Tim Briggs

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

HARRISBURG — The state House of Representatives today adopted a resolution authored by Rep. Tim Briggs (D- 149th Dist.) commemorating the 120th anniversary of the founding of Valley Forge State Park.

“General George Washington’s Continental Army camped at Valley Forge during the brutal winter of 1777, so the park plays an important location for the history of our great state,” Briggs said. “During this encampment, his troops endured unbearable hardships that eventually came to symbolize the courage, determination, and perseverance of early settlers to establish an independent nation.”

Valley Forge became Pennsylvania’s first state park on May 30, 1893. The Valley Forge Park Commission was created to help manage and preserve the historic property.

In 1976, Pennsylvania gave up ownership of the park to the nation as a gift for the bicentennial. On July 4, 1976, President Gerald Ford visited the park to sign legislation authorizing the federal government to take control of it, thereby creating Valley Forge National Historic Park.

“The people of Pennsylvania understood how important Valley Forge was, so they preserved it and maintained it so future generations could experience it,” Briggs said. “Their work and determination to keep Valley Forge’s historical significance should be recognized, which is why I offered my resolution.”